I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 98

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#98

 

At my question, Viscount Valdir’s face reddened as he raised his voice.

 

“Does the Princess think I’m suggesting we attribute your achievements to the entire Ministry of Foreign Affairs for my own authority and benefit!”

 

Wasn’t that the case? That’s how it looked to me.

 

“I’m doing this purely for the Empire! I have no personal greed whatsoever!”

 

“That’s exactly why.”

 

“…That’s why?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I didn’t understand Viscount Valdir’s feelings at all, but I smiled and spoke as if I did.

 

“I too would like to attribute this matter to everyone’s achievement for the Empire’s dignity, but if it’s discovered to be untrue, all the repercussions will fall on Your Excellency.”

 

“…The repercussions will come to me?”

 

“Yes. People who don’t understand Your Excellency’s true intentions will surely think that you stole the credit, just like I might.”

 

Since that was the truth, Viscount Valdir remained silent, perhaps feeling guilty.

 

Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t completely sold his conscience.

 

“So I thought it would be better to just tell the truth from the beginning.”

 

“…In other words, it would be fine as long as other people don’t find out about it, wouldn’t it?”

 

“There were many eyes watching in the meeting room at that time, starting with the diplomatic envoy from the Kingdom of Natsha. Are you confident it will never be discovered for life?”

 

When I hinted that I would gladly do as he wished if that were the case, Viscount Valdir closed his mouth.

 

It seemed he couldn’t dare to be confident about that.

 

Viscount Valdir’s expression was still unpleasant. There was no reason for it to be good when things weren’t going his way.

 

Whatever Viscount Valdir’s mood was, it had nothing to do with me.

 

…No wait, he might go around badmouthing me behind my back, right?

 

I became suspicious given his track record.

 

If Viscount Valdir did that, my image among the nobles would worsen further.

 

That would be a major obstacle to my becoming a baron in the future, and it would also interfere with my work.

 

‘That absolutely cannot happen.’

 

I didn’t know about other things, but I had to prevent interference with my work.

 

If that happened, it wouldn’t end with just my problem but would also affect Kalian and Baron Delrond, so I had to prevent it at all costs.

 

But how?

 

I couldn’t accept his proposal at this point.

 

‘…Ah!’

 

Right. I could use that method.

 

Having thought of a good strategy, I casually began speaking.

 

“But if we do that, the dignity of the Empire and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be ruined, as Your Excellency mentioned.”

 

Viscount Valdir looked at me with strange eyes. His face also showed suspicion.

 

“I don’t want that either, so I’d like to make one proposal to Your Excellency.”

 

“A proposal?”

 

“Yes. This time, let’s say that Your Excellency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t fail to do anything during the diplomatic talks, but chose not to.”

 

It might sound like wordplay, but there was a huge difference between being unable to do something and choosing not to do it.

 

Being unable meant lacking ability, but choosing not to meant having the ability but not stepping forward for some reason.

 

“The reason could be that you did so to help me fully demonstrate my abilities. You actually did that too.”

 

“Th-that’s right!”

 

Pleased with my explanation, Viscount Valdir smiled brightly and immediately agreed.

 

“Of course, that’s exactly right!”

 

What exactly was right? It was absurd.

 

He had made a cunning plan to hold meetings without me and made me out to be a liar.

 

He seemed to have completely forgotten that he had also tried to prevent me from attending the talks.

 

“Yes, that would work. Then there would be no problem.”

 

“I’m glad your concerns are resolved. May I take my leave now?”

 

“Of course. Have a good night, Princess Tebesa.”

 

Judging by his hearty laughter and warm greeting, his mood had improved.

 

This should do it. I didn’t even hope for him to praise me to other nobles.

 

I just hoped he wouldn’t spread strange rumors behind my back.

 

That would be enough.

 

“Have a good night, Your Excellency.”

 

I gave Viscount Valdir a formal greeting and left the room, heading to my room.

 

Count Hiltain silently followed behind me.

 

When I arrived in front of my room, I turned to look at Count Hiltain.

 

“I’m going to rest in my room now, so you can go back to your room and rest too.”

 

I knew that even if I said this, he would only nod but not leave immediately.

 

He would continue to guard my door even after I went in.

 

Even when I told him not to do that and to rest, he rarely listened.

 

Still, I said it hoping he would, but Count Hiltain didn’t nod as usual and stared at me intently.

 

“Do you have something to say to me?”

 

“…Nothing.”

 

That’s not true, it looks like you do have something to say.

 

“Go in and rest. I’ll go rest too.”

 

“Are you really going to rest?”

 

Count Hiltain didn’t answer and closed his mouth.

 

That meant he wouldn’t.

 

Should I think it’s good that he doesn’t tell obvious lies?

 

I felt uncomfortable knowing he would be guarding in front of my room all night again.

 

“Please go back to your room and rest after a little while.”

 

Count Hiltain nodded silently.

 

It meant he would, but contrary to that answer, he unfailingly guarded in front of my door all night long.

 

* * *

 

In a certain country located on the Eastern Continent, there’s a saying that if you carve the character for patience three times, even murder can be forgiven.

 

Ber was painfully realizing how wrong that saying was.

 

The culprit was naturally Kalian. To be more specific, the problem was the recent order to find a house to bestow upon Leilah.

 

Since then, Ber had presented decent mansions as many as five times, but Kalian had rejected them every time.

 

The reasons for rejection were varied: the mansion was too close to the busy district, it was too far from the Imperial Palace making it inconvenient for Leilah to commute, it was too close to the Williot Duchy, and so on.

 

This was already the sixth time.

 

Ber looked at Kalian reading the documents, hoping this time would pass safely.

 

Finally, Kalian, who had finished reading all the documents, nodded with satisfaction.

 

“This looks good.”

 

“Really?”

 

When Kalian gave a positive response, Ber’s tearful face instantly brightened.

 

It was the face of someone who had been to heaven.

 

Kalian glanced at Ber sideways, then put the documents down on the desk.

 

“But there’s a problem.”

 

“Right! How hard I worked to prepare this… What? A problem?”

 

Ber’s face, instantly thrown from heaven back to hell, crumpled miserably.

 

Ber pressed his forehead with his hand, let out a deep sigh, and asked Kalian.

 

“What’s the problem this time?”

 

“It’s too small.”

 

Kalian answered as if asking what was so obvious.

 

“It’s a house bestowed by the Emperor himself, so how can we give such a small and shabby house?”

 

What kind of nonsense is that…

 

Ber made an incredulous expression. It seemed he had forgotten the fact that he had given Leilah a house smaller than this one.

 

And this size was actually quite appropriate.

 

It wasn’t like Leilah had family members with her, she was alone!

 

“Did I set too difficult a condition?”

 

“No. It’s not too difficult a condition, but rather an almost impossible one.”

 

“Impossible, you say. It looks simple to me.”

 

Ber was about to argue about where exactly he saw it as simple, but shut his mouth tight.

 

Through long experience, he knew well that arguing would only be a loss for him.

 

And that Kalian wouldn’t give up either.

 

However, finding a house that met Kalian’s conditions was more difficult than plucking stars from the sky.

 

No, it was questionable whether such a place could even be found.

 

It had to be far from the Williot Duchy, close to the Imperial Palace, not in a busy district but not in the outskirts either.

 

Was that all? It also had to have good security, no problematic neighbors, and be reasonably large – where on earth could such a place exist…

 

“…There is one?”

 

Ber, who suddenly thought of a place, let out a short exclamation.

 

Kalian pushed the documents he had placed on the desk toward Ber and said.

 

“If you have a place in mind, go and fill out the paperwork.”

 

“I don’t think there’s any need to fill out paperwork. It’s a place Your Majesty knows well too.”

 

“A place I know well? Where is that?”

 

Ber smiled slyly and pointed at the floor with his index finger.

 

“Here.”

 

Kalian’s eyebrow rose slightly as he realized Ber was referring to the Imperial Palace.

 

Ber continued with a grinning smile.

 

“The Imperial Palace is the perfect place that satisfies all the conditions Your Majesty set. So just bring Count Tebesa into the Imperial Palace.”

 

The Imperial Palace was where the imperial family lived.

 

Occasionally distinguished guests would stay there, but that was literally just a brief stay.

 

It was absurd for someone who wasn’t royalty to live in the Imperial Palace.

 

He knew this well, yet said such a thing purely because he was annoyed.

 

Since Kalian kept demanding impossible things, he spoke with the intention of making him experience it too.

 

“Let’s do that then.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

When Kalian readily accepted, Ber was flustered and blinked his eyes wide.

 

Kalian smiled brightly and drove the point home.

 

“From now on, Leilah will stay in the Imperial Palace.”

 

“…You’re joking, right?”

 

There was no way Kalian wouldn’t know that only royalty could live in the Imperial Palace.

 

So he thought it was simply a response to his own joke, but looking at his expression, that didn’t seem to be the case either.

 

Could it be… he’s serious?

 

Ber asked Kalian in shock.

 

“Are you really going to bring Count Tebesa into the Imperial Palace?!”

 

“You’re the one who suggested it.”

 

No, that was said as a joke…

 

“I think that would be better too.”

 

Ber, who was at a loss for words, closed his mouth.

 

Ber seriously pondered how to resolve this situation.

 

Meanwhile, Kalian was quite satisfied that the problem had been solved and read the other documents Ber had brought.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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